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555-605 (Medium)|   Math Related|         
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Invincible_147
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 03:03
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Hi All,

3% decrease from the budget from 2023 = 897250000

42% of 897250000= 376845000

85% of 376845000 = 3,20,318.25 , approximating to 320,000,000

and 15% of 376845000 = 56526750 , approximating to 57000000
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 03:53
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From the provided info, we have the following table:


project costsproject materials %project materials exprawrecycling and waste managementraw exprecycling and waste management exp
2023925,000,00038% 351,500,000 85%15% 298,775,000 52,725,000
2024 897,250,000 42% 376,845,000 85%15% 320,318,250 56,526,750

So Raw Materials Cost for 2024 = 320M
Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 = 57M
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 04:06
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Since 85/15=5.67
Thus we need to see which combination of choices gives the ratio . Upon scanning we see that 320 mn/57 mn= 5.67

Hence ans= 320 mn, 57 mn
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 04:24
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Project costs are 925,000,000.
If they decrease by 3%: 925,000,000 - 27,750,000 = 897,250,000
42% of 897,250,000 are 376,845,000

85% of 376,845,000 are 320,318,250, rounded to 320,000,000
15% of 376,845,000 are 56,526,750, rounded to 57,000,000

Answers Raw Materials Cost for 2024 320,000,000, Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 57,000,000
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 04:56
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2023 Annual project costs = 925,000,000
2024 annual project costs= 0.97x925,000,000= 897,250,000
Project material costs = 0.42x897,250,000= 376,845,250

Raw material costs 2024= 0.85x376,845,250= 320K
Recycling waste management cost = 0.15x376,845,250= 57K
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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 05:41
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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
Raw Materials Cost for 2024Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024
$375,000,000
$340,000,000
$320,000,000
$70,000,000
$57,000,000


In 2024, Project Materials expenses (in $ mn ) = 925 * 0.97 * 0.42 = 376.85 (Given, that Total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%; and Project Materials will accountfor 42% of total project costs)

So, Out of the Project Materials expenses,

Raw materials = 85 % of Project Material expenses = 0.85 * 376.85 = 320.31 (approximately $ 320 mn)

Recycling and Waste Management = 15 % of Project Material expenses = 0.15 * 376.85 = 56.53 (approximately $ 57 mn)



Raw Materials Cost (for 2024) = $320,000,000
Recycling/Waste Management Cost (for 2024) = $ 57,000,000
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 06:00
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Project cost at 2023= 925 * 10M
97% of it {as reduced by 3%}=897.25 *10 M
Material cost=42% of 897.25*10M=376.845*10M
now 85% of Material Cost is Raw Material Cost= 85/100 * 376.845 * 10M=320.318 *10 M {yes this one is in option so we are going about right }
now for rest 15% either subtract the Raw Material from Material cost or
calculate 15% of 376.845 *10M=56.526 * 10 M {Near about 57} {Yes available in the option}
hence
320,000,000 and 57,000,000 is the answer
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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 06:25
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Solution Explanation:
Let's break down the problem step by step to find the projected costs for raw materials and recycling/waste management in 2024.
1. Calculate Total Project Costs for 2024:
  • 2023 Total Project Costs: $925,000,000
  • Expected Decrease: 3%
    Decrease Amount = 0.03 × 925,000,000 = 27,750,000
    2024 Total Project Costs = 925,000,000 − 27,750,000 = 897,250,000
2. Determine Project Materials Cost for 2024:
  • Percentage of Total Costs: 42%
    Project Materials Cost = 0.42 × 897,250,000 = 376,845,000
    Approximately $376,845,000 will be spent on project materials in 2024.
3. Split Project Materials into Raw Materials and Recycling/Waste Management:
  • Raw Materials: 85% of project materials
  • Recycling/Waste Management: 15% of project materials
a. Raw Materials Cost:
Raw Materials Cost = 0.85 × 376,845,000 = 320,318,250
Approximately $320,000,000.
b. Recycling/Waste Management Cost:
Recycling/Waste Management Cost=0.15×376,845,000=56,526,750\text{Recycling/Waste Management Cost} = 0.15 \times 376,845,000 = 56,526,750
Approximately $57,000,000.
4. Selecting the Closest Options:
  • Raw Materials Cost for 2024: $320,000,000
  • Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024: $57,000,000
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 06:53
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This one is purely mathematical:
  • \(costs_{2024}=0.97*925\)
  • \(materials_{2024}=0.42*costs_{2024}=0.42*0.97*925=377\)

From there, raw materials are \(0.85* materials_{2024}=320\) and waste management is \(0.15* materials_{2024}=57\)
Therefore, the answers are 320m and 57m.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 07:28
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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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2024 Total Project Costs=925,000,000×(1−0.03)=925,000,000×0.97=897,750,000/-

2024 Project Materials Costs=897,750,000×0.42=376,845,000/-

Raw Materials Cost for 2024=376,845,000×0.85=320,317,250/- Which implies approximate cost of 320,000,000/-

R/W Management Cost for 2024=376,845,000×0.15=56,526,750/- Which implies approximate cost of 56,000,000/-
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 07:55
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Year 2023

Project costs = $925,000,000
Project materials = 38 % of Project costs

Raw materials = 85 % of project materials
Waste management = 15 % of project materials


Year 2024
Project costs = 3% decrease from 2023 = 97% of $925,000,000 = 97 * $9,250,000
Project materials = 42 % of Project costs = 42 * 97 * $92,500

Raw materials = 85 % of project materials = 85 * 42 * 97 * $925
Waste management = 15 % of project materials = 15 * 42 * 97 * $925

Question : Raw materials for 2024 and Waste management for 2024

Approximating for raw materials = 85 * 40 * 100 * 900 = 3,400 * 90,000 = Approx 340,000,000

Approximating for waste management = 15 * 40 * 100 * 900 = Approx 57,000,000


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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 08:04
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New Annual Project Cost = 0.97 * 925 million = 897.25 million
Project Cost = 0.42* 897 million = 376.74 million
Raw Material = 0.85 * 376 = 319.6 million
Waste = 0.15 * 376 = 56.4 million
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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 08:16
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IMO

Raw Materials Cost for 2024: $320,000,000
Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024: $57,000,000



  1. Calculate the total project costs for 2024: The total project costs in 2024 are expected to decrease by 3% from the 2023 costs of $925,000,000.

    Total project costs for 2024=925,000,000×(1−0.03)=925,000,000×0.97=897,250,000
  2. Calculate the project materials cost for 2024: Project materials will account for 42% of the total project costs in 2024.

    Project materials cost for 2024=897,250,000×0.42=376,845,000
  3. Calculate the raw materials cost for 2024: Raw materials make up 85% of the project materials cost.

    Raw materials cost for 2024=376,845,000×0.85=320,318,250
  4. Calculate the recycling and waste management cost for 2024: Recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15% of the project materials cost.

    Recycling and waste management cost for 2024=376,845,000×0.15=56,526,750
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 08:18
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2024 Total cost = 925,000,000×(1−0.03)=925,000,000×0.97
= 897,750,000

2024 Project Materials Cost = 897,750,000×0.42
= 376,845,000

2024 Raw Materials Cost = 376,845,000×0.85
= 320,316,250

2024 Recycling/Waste Management Cost = 376,845,000×0.15
= 56,526,750

Approximate values are
$320,000,000
$57,000,000

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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 08:21
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2023 Total Project cost = $925,000,000
2024 Total Project cost = $925,000,000*(1-0.03) = $897,250,000

2024 Project Materials cost = $897,250,000 * 0.42 = $376,845,000

Raw Material Cost = $376,845,000*0.85 = $320,318,250 rquivalent to $320,000,000
Recycling/Waste Management Cost = $376,845,000*0.15 = $56,526,750 equivalent to $57,000,000
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 08:39
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Calculate the total project costs for 2024 by reducing the 2023 costs by 3%
897,750,000

Calculate the cost of project materials in 2024 by taking 42% of the total project costs.
$376,845,000

split the project materials cost into raw materials (85%) and recycling/waste management (15%) to find the relevant values.
Raw Materials: $376,845,000 * 0.85 = $320,318,250 (approximately $320,000,000)
Recycling/Waste Management: $376,845,000 * 0.15 = $56,526,750 (approximately $57,000,000)




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At Skyline Construction, project materials represented 38% of its annual project costs of $925,000,000 in 2023. Due to new environmental regulations and a shift toward sustainable building, project materials will account for 42% of total project costs in 2024, while total project costs are expected to decrease by 3%. Within project materials expenses, raw materials consistently make up 85% of costs, while recycling and waste management account for the remaining 15%.

In the table, select for Raw Materials Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to raw materials, and select for Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 the approximate projected cost devoted to recycling and waste management. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 08:53
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This is a % problem.

925000000*0.38 = material costs of 2023
which increases up to 42% on 2024 while the total project cost decreases 3% so

Total project cost = 0.97*925M =897M
Material costs are = 0.42*0.97*925M=376M

From these 376M, raw material costs' are 85% and recycling and waste management are 15% so

Recycling = 0.15*3.76 = approx 57M
Raw materials = 3.76*0.85= approx 320M
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 27 Dec 2024, 08:59
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The first step is to calculate total cost for the project on 2024 = 925,000,000 * 97% = 897,250,000

Next, from this cost materials have been increased to a 42% of the project so total cost of materials are = 897,250,000 * 42% = 376,845,000

Next move: raw materials are 85% and recycling costs are 15% which is respectively, 320M and 57M. Select these two.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 19 Mar 2026, 20:00
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Happy to walk you through this step by step! This question asks us to find two costs for 2024 — raw materials and recycling/waste management. Let's build up to both.

Step 1: Find 2024 Total Project Costs

2023 total project costs = $925,000,000. The problem says total project costs decrease by 3% in 2024.

$925,000,000 × 0.97 = $897,250,000

Step 2: Find 2024 Project Materials Cost

Project materials account for 42% of total project costs in 2024.

$897,250,000 × 0.42 = $376,845,000

Step 3: Split Project Materials into Raw Materials and Recycling/Waste Management

The problem tells us raw materials consistently make up 85% of project materials costs, and recycling/waste management accounts for the remaining 15%.

Raw Materials = $376,845,000 × 0.85 = $320,318,250 ≈ $320,000,000

Recycling/Waste Management = $376,845,000 × 0.15 = $56,526,750 ≈ $57,000,000

Step 4: Match to the Table

For the Raw Materials Cost for 2024 column, select Row 3: $320,000,000.
For the Recycling/Waste Management Cost for 2024 column, select Row 5: $57,000,000.

A common trap here is using the 2023 total ($925M) directly without applying the 3% decrease first, which would give you $375M for total materials — tempting you to pick Row 1 ($375,000,000) for raw materials. But that $375M figure is the total materials cost before splitting into the 85/15 breakdown, and it's also slightly off because it ignores the cost decrease. Key Insight: Always apply changes in the order the problem describes them: adjust total costs first, then take percentages.

Answer: Row 3 (Raw Materials — $320,000,000) and Row 5 (Recycling/Waste Management — $57,000,000)
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: At Skyline Construction 05 Jul 2026, 05:32
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i am not sure if my solution is correct, but here is what i did.
i rounded off the numbers to the nerest 100s, and with that i did my calculation, whichever answer was closest to my answer i selected that and got the correct answer.
can someone please let me know if this is the correct approach.
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